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Tweak says, "This box, it is too small!"

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a talented lad (theburglarwho) wrote in valarlogs,
@ 2012-07-27 09:58:00

Entry tags:

!complete, barbara gordon (batgirl), bernie rhodenbarr

Who: Bernie Rhodenbarr and Barbara Gordon
What: She's making him dinner
When: Thursday night, after this exchange
Where: Barbara's place
Rating: PG, probably, some flirting from Bernie.. Will update if more!
Status: In Progress

Bernie didn't need Artie to tell him he was being ridiculous. He was an old bookseller and an appreciative customer had offered him dinner. He'd known Barbara for years, and while he'd flirted with her before--in a harmless, gentlemanly way--this was the first time he'd ever been invited over. It was much more sensible to take it at face value; She was grateful he was bringing his cat over to slaughter vermin, and was making him dinner in thanks.

Still, he couldn't help a bit of schoolboy excitement. She'd welcomed his offer of wine, and hadn't shot down his flirting yet. Of course, she could simply be in shock from the earthquakes and the invasion of the furry creatures. Best not to assume anything. He would simply expect a nice dinner, good wine, and pleasant conversation occasionally punctuated by the shrieks of Raffles' prey.

At Barbara's door, Bernie leaned on the bell with an elbow. In one hand he carried the Pinot noir, and under the other arm was Raffles.

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	barbara_g 2012-07-28 11:21 pm UTC (link)
	"Maybe the quake shuffling will encourage more order" she suggested, though by the sounds of it Bernie's friend was happily disorganized, "Always more fun than getting lost alone and who knows what we might find" "I thought so" Barbara teased, "Thankfully my wardrobe doesn't contain any tweed or cardigans so I think we'll be okay" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

theburglarwho
2012-07-29 03:02 am UTC (link)

Bernie chuckled. "Maybe so! I'm certainly using it as an excuse to rearrange some things." Somehow Artie knew where everything was at the Warehouse, which constantly impressed Bernie. "Hm, who knows, indeed. He does have a backroom," Bernie said, waggling his eyebrows at her. Less and less subtle as the wine disappeared.

"I don't know, I could see you in tweed." That should not be a thing, really it shouldn't. But what antiquarian bookdealer didn't have a sexy librarian fetish? It would be stranger for him not to, if you thought about it.

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barbara_g
2012-07-29 08:32 am UTC (link)

"Really?" Barbara replied, laughing at the eyebrow waggle, "I imagine there's all kinds of discoveries to be made in there" she added with a teasing smile.

"You think so? I'm not convinced" she told him, "Maybe I should try it out then see what you think. I'm always open to expanding my wardrobe" Barbara was fairly sure it was a combination of wine and Bernie which was making her far more relaxed than usual, she kind of liked it though.

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theburglarwho
2012-07-29 02:23 pm UTC (link)

Oh, he was positive Artie would find something large and heavy to hit him with if he knew what Bernie was plotting. But they were just teasing. If they found themselves in need of a backroom, Bernie would gladly offer his own before taking her to the Warehouse. He had the key to his own, and he knew the last time he'd cleaned.

Bernie had finished his dinner. He poured the last of the wine into their glasses. "Can I help you wash up?"

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	barbara_g 2012-07-29 02:56 pm UTC (link)
	Barbara shook her head, "I'll load the dishwasher later" she told him with a smile. "Shall we move into the conservatory?" she suggested, "I think it's dark enough that the garden should be coming to life" she added, the multicolored solar lights should be starting to come on which would look lovely and some of them illuminated the flowers nicely. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	theburglarwho 2012-07-29 03:15 pm UTC (link)
	Bernie smiled, nodding. "Certainly." He stood, picking up his wineglass. It was the first Bernie had heard of darkness bringing gardens to life, but he followed along without question. As they entered the conservatory, though, Bernie saw just what she meant. The lights were a nice touch. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

barbara_g
2012-07-29 03:31 pm UTC (link)

Entering the conservatory Barbara was glad to see she had been right, the garden was looking lovely.

"I'm not very green-fingered" she told Bernie as they sat down, "But I love to see different flowers in a garden, it makes it so bright and I wanted to be able to see them in the evenings too"

Her gardener took great care of all of the plants and flowers, she watered when she was here and did as much as she could but she couldn't really claim responsibility for how nice it all looked.

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	theburglarwho 2012-07-29 04:07 pm UTC (link)
	"To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower," Bernie quoted, though his gaze was focused on Barbara, not the lights or the plants. It was nice to be sitting next to her, rather than across from her. His own not-green fingers had moved to lightly stroke her hair. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	barbara_g 2012-07-29 05:02 pm UTC (link)
	"Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour" Barbara quoted in return as she smiled at him, her head unconsciously tilting towards his fingers. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

theburglarwho
2012-07-29 05:17 pm UTC (link)

"And she knows poetry, too!" Bernie said, a hand his forehead as he exaggerated a swoon. "Be still my heart." He was being silly, but it certainly felt like a moment. If he hadn't already had her phone number, he would've made damned sure to get it now.

His hand slipped further into her hair as he turned to face her more fully. Now or never, as they said. He leaned in to place a kiss on her neck, reasonably sure she wouldn't hit him for it.

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	barbara_g 2012-07-29 05:28 pm UTC (link)
	Barbara laughed softy at his antics, "Everybody should know William Blake" she told him with a smile. As he turned towards her Barbara felt her heart rate increase in speed and at the touch of his lips on her neck she turned her head giving him better access. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	theburglarwho 2012-07-29 06:03 pm UTC (link)
	Well, if she was going to help him along, it would be rude not to accept. His lips moved up to hers, kissing her with more confidence. One hand was still in her hair, and the other moved to her waist. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	barbara_g 2012-07-29 06:22 pm UTC (link)
	Barbara returned the kiss as she placed one hand on his chest whilst sliding the other up around his neck to let her fingers slide into the hair at his nape. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

theburglarwho
2012-07-30 03:15 pm UTC (link)

One thing about being an avid reader is that sometimes you just read whatever people laid down in front of you. Unfortunately, sometimes that was less William Blake and more Seventeen magazine. Something that had stuck with Bernie was a column titled 'How to Kiss a Boy.' The article advised teenage girls to put a hand on their boyfriend's chest to 'keep it slow'.

Bernie wasn't sure how much stock he would put in teen magazine advice, and it was unlikely that Barbara had read the same article. Still, he didn't want to push her. He was fine with this moving at her pace. There was a little less urgency in his kiss, now, but his hands still played lightly along her hair and waist.

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barbara_g
2012-07-30 03:59 pm UTC (link)

Barbara hadn't read any such magazine article, in actual fact the sole reason for her hand placement was to stop it wandering anywhere else. She was determined not to come across as easy or desperate, although if he kept kissing her like he was she may throw caution to the wind and end up straddling him on the conservatory sofa.

Although they had known each other a while this was still their first date and Barbara didn't want to rush anything, not at the risk of their friendship. She valued Bernie far too much to risk losing him like that. They hadn't talked about whatever relationship this may turn into yet they were already making out like two horny teenagers.

You're thinking too much, she told herself, just enjoy it. Taking her own advice she stopped thinking and instead enjoyed kissing and being kissed by this lovely man, sliding her other hand up to his nape.

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theburglarwho
2012-07-30 05:57 pm UTC (link)

Bernie wouldn't have objected to that course of action in the least. He didn't get caught up in all that prudish nonsense. They were both adults, and regardless of where the evening ended, he'd enjoyed himself a good deal.

He pulled away, caressing her cheek. "Quite the tour," he said playfully, gazing into her eyes. He was refraining from quoting any more poetry--that would just be unfair.

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	barbara_g 2012-07-30 07:13 pm UTC (link)
	Barbara smiled in return, "I aim to please" she replied teasingly as the tips of her fingers were still unconsciously playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	theburglarwho 2012-07-30 08:12 pm UTC (link)
	Bernie lifted an eyebrow. "Well, in that case..." He grinned, leaning in to kiss her again-- --When Raffles careened into the room and pounced between the two of them, yowling like the ninja cat she was. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	barbara_g 2012-07-30 08:17 pm UTC (link)
	Barbara was startled but as she realized it was Raffles she laughed, "You may have amazing furry killing skills but your timing is terrible" she told the cat as she moved one of her hands and stroked her soft fur. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	theburglarwho 2012-07-30 09:39 pm UTC (link)
	Bernie chuckled, shaking his head. "You little rat," he addressed Raffles, scratching between her ears. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	barbara_g 2012-07-30 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	"By the sound of it she's done her job though" Barbara said as she listened for the squeak of the furry nuisances but instead heard only silence. "You deserve a treat" she added to Raffles who was now enjoying a belly rub. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	theburglarwho 2012-07-30 09:56 pm UTC (link)
	Bernie smirked. Raffles looked quite pleased with herself, treat or no treat. Pretending to be a mighty lioness, no doubt. Though Bernie wasn't sure lions purred quite so loudly. "I think she likes you," he remarked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	barbara_g 2012-07-30 10:09 pm UTC (link)
	Barbara smiled, "I like her too" she said as she continued petting the purring cat, "If I didn't travel so much for work I'd love a pet" she admitted. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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